Fox Accuses NBA Of Waging "War On Christmas"

You would think that by now, what with the "Happy[1]Holidays[2]" promos[3] and its own "Holiday Party[4]," Fox would just forget the whole "War on Christmas" war. For years now, Fox has heavily promoted[5] this idea that "secular progressives" are engaged in a so-called "war" on Christmas, declaring over and over that the holiday is "under attack." In its efforts to continue this overhyped, manufactured non-controversy, the network has taken[6] to misleading[7] viewers and even has accused[8] the Democrats[9] of "waging their own War on Christmas."

When all that failed, Fox tried to rebrand the "War on Christmas" -- the "War on Christianity[10]" -- except that facts, predictably, got in the way of that campaign. Today, Fox has a new culprit to go after for supposedly waging a War on Christmas. It's attacking the NBA for scheduling five games on Christmas Day.

The Fox Nation post linked to a story[11] about Los Angeles Lakers' coach Phil Jackson's displeasure at having to work on Christmas Day. Jackson reportedly stated: "It's like Christian holidays don't mean anything to them anymore. ... We just go out and play and entertain the TV. It's really weird." But as the original ESPN.com article[12] noted, the Lakers game this year will mark the 13th time in 15 seasons the team has played on Christmas Day. The Lakers have played on Christmas every year since 1999[13], when Jackson took over as head coach, and 36 times in all; that record is eclipsed only by the Knicks' 45 game appearances on that day. Not only that, but NBA basketball games have been played on Christmas since the league's inception[14].

Moreover, five NBA games were played on Christmas in 2008[15] and 2009[16] as well. Three were played on Christmas Day 2007, and at least a couple have been played on Christmas since 1991. And guess what else? Sixty-six games[17] were played during Hanukkah this year, from December 1-8, and 47 games[18] during Passover, from March 30 to April 5. I'm sure Fox can do the math on how many games were played this year during Muslim holidays.

Oh, and incidentally, the 3D version[19] of Jack Black's Gulliver's Travels hits theaters nationwide on Christmas Day. The movie will be released by 20th Century Fox (a News Corp. subsidiary[20], like Fox News). If the NBA is engaged in a "War on Christmas," isn't Fox?